SAN ANTONIO(AP) - Alana Beard scored 19 points and Nakia Sanford added 18 to help the Washington Mystics improve their playoff chances with a 77-73 win Tuesday over the San Antonio Silver Stars.

Sophia Young scored 26 points for the Silver Stars.

San Antonio (17-11) clinched a playoff spot in the West last week but fell a half game behind Phoenix for the conference lead.

The Silver Stars played without starters Becky Hammon and Vickie Johnson. Seven-year veteran Helen Darling matched a career high with 18 points while Crossley added 16.

The teams swapped the lead 13 times and were tied 10 more before Washington went ahead 42-40 on a layup by Sanford 2:50 into the second half.

The Mystics took a 64-53 lead when Sanford followed Beard's missed layup with seven minutes remaining. But the Silver Stars cut it to 70-66 on two free throws from Marie Ferdinand-Harris with 1:32 to go.

Washington was ahead 75-70 with 18 seconds left after Beard's breakaway layup, but Darling hit a 3-pointer with six seconds to cut it to 75-73. The Silver Stars fouled Beard, who hit both free throws to seal the win.

San Antonio missed its first seven shots from the floor to start the fourth quarter. They didn't score until Young made a free throw 3:52 into the period.

With the playoff spot clinched, the Silver Stars played their second consecutive game without Hammon and Johnson. Hammon, third in the league in scoring and first in assists, has a left foot sprain. Johnson missed her eighth game in 340 career contests because of a left Achilles' tendon sprain.

Star of the Game
Sophia Young	26 POINTS
	12-15 FT
	5 REBOUNDS